Jorge Jesus becomes Portugal's national team coach and is set to lead Portugal to the 2030 home World Cup

Jesus was most recently working in Saudi Arabia as a club coach of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. The veteran had been employed in Saudi Arabia since 2023, where, after a second stint at Al-Hilal (first time in 2018) and the league title in 2024, he moved to league rival Al-Nassr and Ronaldo and once again became champion of the SPL. Ronaldo could possibly continue his national team career under his confidant.

The position on the coaching bench of his home country is Jesus' first role with a national team. The 71-year-old has already coached several Portuguese clubs, including Benfica and Sporting Lisbon. With city rivals Sporting, he won, among other titles, the Portuguese League Cup in 2018.

Track record of the new coach

His greatest successes came with club Benfica Lisbon, whom he led to three league titles (2010, 2014, and 2015), among other honors. In Saudi Arabia, Jesus also won title after title: With Al Hilal, he initially won in 2018 and, in a second spell at the club in 2023 and 2024, picked up a total of five trophies.

Internationally, Jesus also collected trophies: He led Flamengo Rio de Janeiro to the Brazilian league title and the Copa Libertadores in 2019 and 2020, comparable to the European Champions League. The 71-year-old is regarded as a trophy collector and counts among the most successful Portuguese coaches of recent decades.

Martínez announced his resignation as Portugal's team boss on Tuesday immediately after the 0-1 defeat in the World Cup round of 16 against Spain. The 52-year-old had been in office for three and a half years and had won the 2025 UEFA Nations League with Portugal. After the 0-1 loss, Martínez declared that he did not want to continue.

Resignation after World Cup elimination

As team boss of the Portuguese, Jesus succeeds the Spaniard Roberto Martínez, who stepped down after the 0-1 against Spain on Monday with the expiry of his contract. The Spaniard had managed the Seleção das Quinas for three and a half years and had become the 2025 Nations League winner with them.

According to an "A Bola" report, Jesus will be tied to the team until the next World Cup in 2030, which will also take place in Portugal. Jesus, who is coaching a national team for the first time, is thus to train his home country, among other occasions, at the 2030 World Cup on home soil (as well as in Spain and Morocco, and with one match each in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay).

Contract until the 2030 home World Cup

According to reports, the 71-year-old is signing a contract until 2030. Club: Portugal, Current role: Coach, Contract until: 31.07.2030, Total market value: €1.01 billion, Competition: UEFA Nations League A, Coach: Jorge Jesus, Squad size: 26.

With the appointment of Jesus, the federation is banking on continuity in the style of an experienced title-winning coach who knows Portuguese football culture from decades of club work. The appointment is also being read as a signal to the stars around Ronaldo that the federation is putting its trust in a coach with Champions League experience and Libertadores success.

Jesus' upcoming tasks include qualifying for the 2030 World Cup as well as the further development of the squad after the disappointing round-of-16 exit at the current World Cup. With Jesus, a coach who has won titles both domestically and internationally and shapes the Portuguese style of play is taking charge.

Challenges and outlook

The federation responded to Martínez's resignation with the swift appointment and is setting the course for a fresh start. Jesus brings experience from five decades of coaching and knows the Portuguese football landscape from his time at Benfica, Sporting, and other clubs.

With the contract running until 2030, Jesus has the opportunity to initiate a long-term overhaul and prepare the team for the home World Cup. The Copa Libertadores with Flamengo and the five trophies with Al-Hilal underscore his ability to win titles in foreign leagues as well.

Portuguese fans are reacting with mixed feelings to the appointment: On the one hand, Jesus stands for success and titles; on the other, his departures from Benfica and Sporting were each accompanied by controversy. The coming months will show whether the veteran masters the transition from the club to the national team level.